Uncertainty reduction in close relationships

• Kimberly J. M. Downs, “Family Commitment Role Perceptions, Social Support, and Mutual Children in Remarriage: A Test of Uncertainty Reduction Theory,” Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, Vol. 40, 2004, pp. 35-54.
• Jennifer L. Gibbs, Nicole B. Ellison, and Chih-Hui Lai, “First Comes Love, Then Comes Google: An Investigation of Uncertainty Reduction Strategies and Self-disclosure in Online Dating,” Communication Research, Vol. 38, 2011, pp. 70-100.
• Jennifer A. Theiss and Denise H. Solomon, “Parsing the Mechanisms That Increase Relational Intimacy: The Effects of Uncertainty Amount, Open Communication About Uncertainty, and the Reduction of Uncertainty,” Human Communication Research, Vol. 34, 2008, pp. 625-654.

Relational Turbulence Theory

As alluded to in the chapter, there is an explosion of research on relational turbulence in recent years. Just a sampling of some of those projects includes: 

• Natalie K. Ellis and Andrew M. Ledbetter, “Why Might Distance Make the Heart Grow Fonder?: A Relational Turbulence Model Investigation of the Maintenance of Long Distance and Geographically Close Romantic Relationships,” Communication Quarterly, Vol. 63, 2015, pp. 568-585.
• Leanne K. Knobloch, Lynne M. Knobloch-Fedders, Jeremy B. Yorgason, Aaron T. Ebata, and Patricia C. McGlaughlin, “Military Children’s Difficulty with Reintegration After Deployment: A Relational Turbulence Model Perspective,” Journal of Family Psychology, Vol. 31, 2017, pp. 542-552.
• Denise H. Solomon, Leanne K. Knobloch, Jennifer A. Theiss, and Rachel M. McLaren, “Relational Turbulence Theory: Explaining Variation in Subjective Experiences and Communication Within Romantic Relationships,” Human Communication Research, Vol. 42, 2016, pp. 507-532.

Uncertainty reduction in the digital age

• Marjolijn L. Antheunis, Alexander P. Schouten, Patti M. Valkenburg, and Jochen Peter, “Interactive Uncertainty Reduction Strategies and Verbal Affection in Computer-mediated Communication,” Communication Research, Vol. 39, 2012, pp. 757-780.
• Cédric Courtois, Anissa All, and Hadewijch Vanwynsberghe, “Social Network Profiles as Information Sources for Adolescents' Offline Relations,” CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, Vol. 15, 2012, pp. 290-295.
• SeoYoung Lee and Junho Choi, “Enhancing User Experience with Conversational Agent for Movie Recommendation: Effects of Self-disclosure and Reciprocity,” International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, Vol. 103, 2017, pp. 95-105.
• Amy May and Kelly Tenzek, “‘A Gift We are Unable to Create Ourselves’: Uncertainty Reduction in Online Classified Ads Posted by Gay Men Pursuing Surrogacy,” Journal of GLBT Family Studies, Vol. 12, pp. 430-450.
• Amy May and Kelly E. Tenzek, “Seeking Mrs. Right: Uncertainty Reduction in Online Surrogacy Ads,” Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, Vol. 12, 2011, pp. 27-33.
• Cynthia Palmieri, Kristen Prestano, Rosalie Gandley, Emily Overton, and Qin Zhang,”The Facebook Phenomenon: Online Self-disclosure and Uncertainty Reduction,” China Media Research, Vol. 8, 2012, pp. 108-113.

Anxiety-Uncertainty Management Theory (AUM)

• In previous editions, Griffin covered AUM in a separate chapter. That treatment is available on the website www.afirstlook.com, under the “Theory Archive.”
• For some other articles applying AUMT and URT, see
  • Craig R. Hullett and Kim Witte, “Predicting Intercultural Adaptation and Isolation: Using the Extended Parallel Process Model to Test Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory,” International Journal Of Intercultural Relations, Vol. 25, 2001, pp. 125-139.
  • Ann Neville Miller and Jennifer A. Samp, “Planning Intercultural Interaction: Extending Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory,” Communication Research Reports, Vol. 24, 2007, pp. 87-95.

URT in the classroom

For some other teaching ideas, see

• Marcia Alesan Dawkins, “How it's Done: Using Hitch as a Guide to Uncertainty Reduction Theory,” Communication Teacher, Vol. 24, 2010, pp. 136-141.
• Yifeng Hu, “Hands-on Experience with Uncertainty Reduction Theory: An Effective and Engaging Classroom Activity,” Florida Communication Journal, Vol. 43, 2015, pp. 119-123.